Darrell Porter twice faced his ex-mates in the World Series. And this covers three different teams.
Porter, the catcher, started his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. But in 1980, he was on the Kansas City Royals. The Royals made it to the Fall Classic for the first time ever that year.
Darrell, who had his first taste of postseason in '77 with George Brett and some others, struggled in 1980. He managed just one hit in the ALCS, but Kansas finally found a way to beat New York, having twice lost to them in the late 70s. In the World Series against Philadelpha, he was hitless until collecting a pair of singles in game six. The Phillies won it, right then and there.
So it was on to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 for Porter, and this time, he delivered. He collected two hits in game one, and another pair in game two. The Milwaukee Brewers, his old team, won game one without a sweat, 10-0.
In game two, Porter collected his first World Series RBI and the Cards squared things.
Porter did not collect more than one hit in the remaining five games, but he picked the right spots to deliver.
In game three, Darrell failed to get a hit, but the Cardinals had an easy time of their own, 6-2. His teammates only collected six hits total, however. The next game saw Milwaukee square this thing at two games with a 7-5 win. The Brew Crew erupted for six runs in the bottom of the seventh. Porter got a walk in addition to his hit.
Milwaukee took game five as well, 6-4. The Cardinals scored twice in the top of the ninth to try and come back. Porter, 0-4 at this point, singled. That put runners on first and second. Darrell was removed for a pinch runner. But neither of the baserunners would score.
But in the next game, St. Louis stayed alive and Darrell had a huge hit. In the bottom of the fourth, it was his two-run home run that put the Cardinals up 4-0. They added nine more runs, while the Brewers managed a meaningless run in the top of the ninth. The 13-1 win sent this thing to a seventh and decisive game.
St. Louis came back in game seven from 3-1 down to take a 4-3 lead. Then, batting for what turned out to be the last time in 1982, the Cards got the insurance they were looking for. Last of the eighth. And it was our boy that delivered it.
Porter's single scored a fifth run, and when Steve Braun followed with one of his own, the Cardinals had the breathing room they needed. Porter, who finished with a .351 average in the Fall Classic that year, took home MVP honours.
In 1985, Porter faced another former team, the Royals. And after four games, it looked like he'd have another World Series ring.
In game one in Kansas, Porter got only one hit. He did not knock in a run or score one. But the Cardinals won it, 3-1. And despite being held hitless in game two, St. Louis staged a dramatic ninth inning rally and won 4-2.
It was on to St. Louis for Porter and his mates. But home cooking did not change Porter's slump as he was again held hitless. Worse still, St. Louis lost, 6-1. Porter would be a spectator for the next two games.
St. Louis, stuck Tom Nieto in behind the plate. He, too, was held hitless. But he walked, had a sac bunt, and drove in a run as St. Louis won 3-0. One more win by the Cardinals and this thing was over!
But St. Louis never got that win.
Nieto was back behind the plate in game five, but Kansas won by the same score they had won game three here, 6-1. The Cardinals were not hitting. Nieto went 0-4.
In game six in Kansas, Porter was back behind the dish. In the top of the sixth, he hit a single to send a runner to second with no outs. The Cardinals stranded both runners. But in the top of the eighth, they broke the scoreless deadlock with a much-needed run.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Royals got the leadoff man to first as Jorge Orta beat out a ball where pitcher Todd Worrell was a little slow getting to first. Replays showed that Orta was out. Steve Balboni popped to first, but Jack Clark, could not get to it in foul territory. A bunt attempt resulted in an out at third. But then Porter allowed a passed ball. After Hal McRae was walked to load the bases, Dane Iorg won the game with a single to right. Balboni scored as the throw from right was just a split second too late. Balboni was just ahead as Porter got the ball.
Darrell was back behind the dish in game seven, but St. Louis imploded. John Tudor, looking for his third win for St. Louis, got roughed up and was gone after 2 1/3 innings. Kansas City led 3-0. Two more runs scored before the inning was over and this thing was a laugher. Well, except for St. Louis.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, things got worse. Porter caught one of Joaquin Andujar's pitches that Joaquin, Porter and manager Whitey Herzog thought was a strike. However, that's not what home plate umpire Don Denkinger thought. Joaquin, quite the character, wasn't about to forget that Denkinger made the call at first in game six where Orta was clearly safe. Andujar let Don know that game seven would not be happening if not for his bad call. So Andujar did a little showmanship to go along with that and got ejected. So did an irate Herzog. The whole Cardinal team was mad. Joaquin and Whitey did not go into the night quietly. But Kansas tacked on six more runs. This thing was really over.
The Cardinals got a hit in the top of the sixth by Ozzie Smith but he was stranded. Porter then came up in the top of the seventh with two on and two out and was retired on a fly. The Cardinals and Royals went down 1-2-3 in the next two innings. Kansas had won this one in a laugher, 11-0.
Darrell Porter never made it back to the World Series. He played a bit with Texas in the next two seasons, but did not do much. His much publicized drug problems caught up to him in his later years, and he died far too young.
But Porter, who "got around" the big leagues, was also a player who could come up big when it mattered the most in baseball. When I think of Darrell Porter, I'll think back to some memorable moments in three World Series in the 1980s. And hey, don't we always love facing our old team on the big stage in sports? Always seems to add some inventive to win!
References
Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <https://en.wikipedia.org>.
Youtube. Youtube. Web. 23 Oct. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/>.
Porter, the catcher, started his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. But in 1980, he was on the Kansas City Royals. The Royals made it to the Fall Classic for the first time ever that year.
Darrell, who had his first taste of postseason in '77 with George Brett and some others, struggled in 1980. He managed just one hit in the ALCS, but Kansas finally found a way to beat New York, having twice lost to them in the late 70s. In the World Series against Philadelpha, he was hitless until collecting a pair of singles in game six. The Phillies won it, right then and there.
So it was on to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 for Porter, and this time, he delivered. He collected two hits in game one, and another pair in game two. The Milwaukee Brewers, his old team, won game one without a sweat, 10-0.
In game two, Porter collected his first World Series RBI and the Cards squared things.
Porter did not collect more than one hit in the remaining five games, but he picked the right spots to deliver.
In game three, Darrell failed to get a hit, but the Cardinals had an easy time of their own, 6-2. His teammates only collected six hits total, however. The next game saw Milwaukee square this thing at two games with a 7-5 win. The Brew Crew erupted for six runs in the bottom of the seventh. Porter got a walk in addition to his hit.
Milwaukee took game five as well, 6-4. The Cardinals scored twice in the top of the ninth to try and come back. Porter, 0-4 at this point, singled. That put runners on first and second. Darrell was removed for a pinch runner. But neither of the baserunners would score.
But in the next game, St. Louis stayed alive and Darrell had a huge hit. In the bottom of the fourth, it was his two-run home run that put the Cardinals up 4-0. They added nine more runs, while the Brewers managed a meaningless run in the top of the ninth. The 13-1 win sent this thing to a seventh and decisive game.
St. Louis came back in game seven from 3-1 down to take a 4-3 lead. Then, batting for what turned out to be the last time in 1982, the Cards got the insurance they were looking for. Last of the eighth. And it was our boy that delivered it.
Porter's single scored a fifth run, and when Steve Braun followed with one of his own, the Cardinals had the breathing room they needed. Porter, who finished with a .351 average in the Fall Classic that year, took home MVP honours.
In 1985, Porter faced another former team, the Royals. And after four games, it looked like he'd have another World Series ring.
In game one in Kansas, Porter got only one hit. He did not knock in a run or score one. But the Cardinals won it, 3-1. And despite being held hitless in game two, St. Louis staged a dramatic ninth inning rally and won 4-2.
It was on to St. Louis for Porter and his mates. But home cooking did not change Porter's slump as he was again held hitless. Worse still, St. Louis lost, 6-1. Porter would be a spectator for the next two games.
St. Louis, stuck Tom Nieto in behind the plate. He, too, was held hitless. But he walked, had a sac bunt, and drove in a run as St. Louis won 3-0. One more win by the Cardinals and this thing was over!
But St. Louis never got that win.
Nieto was back behind the plate in game five, but Kansas won by the same score they had won game three here, 6-1. The Cardinals were not hitting. Nieto went 0-4.
In game six in Kansas, Porter was back behind the dish. In the top of the sixth, he hit a single to send a runner to second with no outs. The Cardinals stranded both runners. But in the top of the eighth, they broke the scoreless deadlock with a much-needed run.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Royals got the leadoff man to first as Jorge Orta beat out a ball where pitcher Todd Worrell was a little slow getting to first. Replays showed that Orta was out. Steve Balboni popped to first, but Jack Clark, could not get to it in foul territory. A bunt attempt resulted in an out at third. But then Porter allowed a passed ball. After Hal McRae was walked to load the bases, Dane Iorg won the game with a single to right. Balboni scored as the throw from right was just a split second too late. Balboni was just ahead as Porter got the ball.
Darrell was back behind the dish in game seven, but St. Louis imploded. John Tudor, looking for his third win for St. Louis, got roughed up and was gone after 2 1/3 innings. Kansas City led 3-0. Two more runs scored before the inning was over and this thing was a laugher. Well, except for St. Louis.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, things got worse. Porter caught one of Joaquin Andujar's pitches that Joaquin, Porter and manager Whitey Herzog thought was a strike. However, that's not what home plate umpire Don Denkinger thought. Joaquin, quite the character, wasn't about to forget that Denkinger made the call at first in game six where Orta was clearly safe. Andujar let Don know that game seven would not be happening if not for his bad call. So Andujar did a little showmanship to go along with that and got ejected. So did an irate Herzog. The whole Cardinal team was mad. Joaquin and Whitey did not go into the night quietly. But Kansas tacked on six more runs. This thing was really over.
The Cardinals got a hit in the top of the sixth by Ozzie Smith but he was stranded. Porter then came up in the top of the seventh with two on and two out and was retired on a fly. The Cardinals and Royals went down 1-2-3 in the next two innings. Kansas had won this one in a laugher, 11-0.
Darrell Porter never made it back to the World Series. He played a bit with Texas in the next two seasons, but did not do much. His much publicized drug problems caught up to him in his later years, and he died far too young.
But Porter, who "got around" the big leagues, was also a player who could come up big when it mattered the most in baseball. When I think of Darrell Porter, I'll think back to some memorable moments in three World Series in the 1980s. And hey, don't we always love facing our old team on the big stage in sports? Always seems to add some inventive to win!
References
Brenner, Richard J. The World Series: The Great Contests. East End Publishing, 1989. Print.
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Retrosheet. Retrosheet. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <www.retrosheet.org>.
Shalin, Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The Baseball Hall of Fame. Lanham: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
Shalin, Mike, and Neil Shalin. Out By A Step: The 100 Best Players Not In The Baseball Hall of Fame. Lanham: Diamond Communications, 2002. Print.
Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
Thorn, John, and Pete Palmer. Total Baseball. Vers. 1994. Portland, OR: Creative Multimedia Corp., 1994. Computer software. CD-ROM.Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 23 Oct. 2014. <https://en.wikipedia.org>.
Youtube. Youtube. Web. 23 Oct. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/>.
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